MUSICIANS have been rocking in Bewdley to help boost funds to rebuild the Rhydd Covert activity centre.

The Best of Bewdley Bands event was held at Bewdley High School and £800 - half the proceeds - has been donated to Operation Covert.

Kemp Hospice also benefited from the night, which saw Wyre Forest groups Tom the Frop, The Bravo Boys, The Blue Tones and Sweet Fanny Adams take to the stage.

It was organised by Bewdley resident Fred Harvatt and Tom the Frop frontman Max Keen who is also deputy mayor of Bewdley.

Volunteer, Eddie Burton, of Coniston Way, said: "It was a community event and we wanted to support something important within the community. I think it was such a shame that the Rhydd Covert hut was destroyed by vandals.

"My lad went to Beavers and Scouts so I know the Rhydd Covert appeal is a very worthwhile cause. It helps the children in our community grow and mature so it is important to try and rebuild it."

She added: "We all know people who have been affected by cancer or by terminal illnesses and for those people the hospice is vital. They are both very important causes."

Mr Harvatt, of Welch Gate, said: "We have done events for Oxfam and Cancer Research before so we thought we would do it in aid of something local this time and they are both worthwhile causes.

"My daughter was in the Guides and she used to use the Rhydd Covert facilities."

Around 40 people, including musicians and volunteers, helped to stage the event, which was held in November, and Mrs Burton said it was a great success, adding: "It was sold out - we had 200 people there and they all had a ball. They all got up and boogied to all the live music."

The popular annual event raised around £1,600 for Cancer Research UK the previous year and Mr Harvatt said: "It has done very well. The bands do it for nothing and they enjoy it. It is getting bigger each year."